Anigozanthos plant named ‘Rambueleg’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Anigozanthos  plant named ‘Rambueleg’, characterized by its compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely and early flowering habit; freely branched flowering stems; and large red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Anigozanthos flavidus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Rambueleg’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAnigozanthos, botanically known as Anigozanthos flavidus, commonlyreferred to as Kangaroo-Paw, and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Rambueleg’.

The new Anigozanthos is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new compact Anigozanthoscultivars that are suitable for container production, are freelyflowering and have bright flower coloration.

The new Anigozanthos originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor on May 11, 1998 in Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia of aproprietary selection of Anigozanthos flavidus identified as code numberH80, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Anigozanthosflavidus cultivar Flashpoint, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Anigozanthos was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Tuggerah, New SouthWales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new Anigozanthos by in vitro propagation ofmicro-plants in Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia since June, 1999,has shown that the unique features of this new Anigozanthos are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Rambueleg’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Rambueleg’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Rambueleg’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofAnigozanthos:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely and early flowering habit.    -   3. Freely branched flowering stems.    -   4. Large red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Rambueleg’ can be compared to plants of thefemale parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inTuggerah, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Anigozanthos andthe female parent selection differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Anigozanthos had brighter green-colored        leaves than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Anigozanthos were more freely branching        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Anigozanthos had longer flowering stems        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Rambueleg’ can be compared to plants of the maleparent, the cultivar Flashpoint. In side-by-side comparisons conductedby the Inventor in Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia, plants of thenew Anigozanthos and the cultivar Flashpoint differed in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Anigozanthos had shorter leaves than plants        of the cultivar Flashpoint.    -   2. Plants of the new Anigozanthos had bright green-colored        leaves whereas plants of the cultivar Flashpoint had variegated        foliage.

Plants of the new Anigozanthos can be compared to plants of the cultivarBush Garnet, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inTuggerah, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Anigozanthosdiffered from plants of the cultivar Bush Garnet in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Anigozanthos were more compact than plants        of the cultivar Bush Garnet.    -   2. Plants of the new Anigozanthos had longer leaves and flowers        than plants of the cultivar Bush Garnet.    -   3. Plants of the new Anigozanthos flowered earlier than plants        of the cultivar Bush Garnet.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Rambueleg’ can also be compared to plants of thecultivar Bush Ranger, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,478. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Tuggerah, NewSouth Wales, Australia, plants of the new Anigozanthos and the cultivarBush Ranger differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Anigozanthos were taller than plants of the        cultivar Bush Ranger.    -   2. Plants of the new Anigozanthos had longer leaves and flowers        than plants of the cultivar Bush Ranger.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Anigozanthos were more red than        flowers of plants of the cultivar Bush Ranger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Anigozanthos, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Anigozanthos.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Rambueleg’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of typicalflowering stems of ‘Rambueleg’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif., under commercial practiceduring the winter and early spring in a polycarbonate-covered greenhousewith day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 24° C., night temperaturesranging from 16° C. to 18° C., and light levels ranging from about 4,000to 8,000 foot candles. Plants were grown for about 27 weeks with oneplant per 12.5-cm container. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Anigozanthos flavidus cultivar Rambueleg.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Anigozanthos flavidus identified as code number H80, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Anigozanthos flavidus cultivar            Flashpoint, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation of micro-plants.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at            temperatures of 25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures of 15° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 45 to 60            days at temperatures of 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 55 to 70            days at temperatures of 15° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Inverted triangle; compact, upright            and outwardly spreading plant habit with branched flowering            stems with red purple-colored flowers. Leaves in tight            clumps. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of leaves).—About 26 cm.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of flowers).—About 48 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 34 cm by 54 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Number per plant.—About 20.        -   Length.—About 2.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—145A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate equitant, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 18 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Ensiform; folded at base.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Clasping.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; thick,            leathery.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 144B. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 144A. Fully expanded foliage, upper            surface: 147B; venation, 147B. Fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: 147A; venation, 147A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Large flowers arranged singly            on terminal and axillary racemes. Flowers with tubular            perianth; zygomorphic. Flowers held initially upright then            curving outwards and eventually reflex with development.            Flowers not fragrant. Freely flowering habit, about 36 to 42            flowers and flower buds develop per flowering stem.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower throughout the            summer in Southern California; flowering continuous during            this period. Flowers last about 25 to 30 days on the plant.            Flowers persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Flower height.—About 4 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Tubular, curved. Texture: Tomentose. Color: 60A.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Fused elongated tube with six            reflexed acute petal apices; split on lower surface.            Perianth tube length: About 4 cm. Perianth tube diameter:            About 5 mm; at base, about 6 mm. Petal apex length: About            9 mm. Petal apex width: About 3 mm. Texture, outer surface            of perianth tube: Tomentose. Texture, inner surface of            perianth tube: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and            fully opened, outer surface of perianth tube: 146C;            tomentum, 60A. When opening and fully opened, inner surface            of perianth tube: 191A.        -   Floral bracts.—Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Clasping. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower            surface: Tomentose. Color, upper surface: 146A. Color, lower            surface: 60A.        -   Peduncles (flowering stems).—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter:            About 6 mm. Angle: Upright to outwardly spreading. Strength:            Strong, stout. Texture: Tomentose. Color: 146A.        -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 4 mm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: Initially appressed to            flowering stems, with development, about 30° to 45° from            flowering stems. Strength: Strong. Texture: Tomentose.            Color: 60A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower.            Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm.            Anther color: 14B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 14B.            Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About            3.8 cm. Style length: About 3 cm. Style color: 145A. Stigma            shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 144A. Ovary color: 144B.            Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Anigozanthos.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Anigozanthos have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 0° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Anigozanthos have not    been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Anigozanthos.

1. A new and distinct Anigozanthos plant named ‘Rambueleg’ asillustrated and described.